Rookie artist shines on ‘Jackasoul’

Mayson The Soul
“Jackasoul”
(KT Music)

Mayson The Soul’s first creation “Jackasoul” is a soulful start for the up-and-coming rookie R&B artist.
The 8-track album starts strong with “Holiday,” featuring Beenzino’s smooth rapping. The song has a neo-soul buzz, mixing in different effects for a multi-layered sound enhanced with Mayson’s quality vocals.
“Lost” is one of the heavier-sounding songs on the album, with distorted guitar riffs that run throughout in-between Mayson’s haunting voice.
The artist also doesn’t fail to tell a story through his lyrics, singing about people meeting and separating in “Bus Stop.” The R&B melody of Mayson’s vocals blends with the soft rock vibe of an indie band, showing the artist’s ability to mix sounds and genres.
“Tell Me,” featuring Jindotgae, has a catchy beat complete with funk bass line and jazzy piano melodies.
“Jacasoul” is another strong track. With a haunting Coldplay-esque melody and feel, Mayson begins the track with simple acoustic guitar strums. In the chorus, acid guitar riffs give the song a Radiohead-like grunge-feel as well.
With a soulful voice capable of covering diverse genres, Mayson The Soul is definitely an artist to keep an eye on. 

By Cha Yo-rim (yorimcha@heraldcorp.com)

Weak songs mar Elton John’s album

Elton John
“The Diving Board”
(Capitol)

Eager to make a relevant record at age 66, Elton John sought a return to his roots on “The Diving Board,” advertised as piano trio music in the vein of his marvelous early albums. But while they had energy, humor and good songs in abundance, “Board” is dull.
The 15 cuts suggest Elton and producer T Bone Burnett weren’t fully committed to the trio concept. Bass and drums remain subdued throughout, and several songs are dressed up with strings and backup singers.
Longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics, which read as if he mailed them in. “I went to Paris once, I thought I had a plan, I woke up with an accent, I wound up in quicksand,” goes the chorus to “My Quicksand,” which does create a sinking feeling.
The hour-long album is heavily back loaded, and the final three cuts are the best. “Mexican Vacation (Kids in the Candlelight)” swings with a gospel feel, and the inventive instrumental, “Dream (hash)3,” offers more surprises than anything else in the set. (AP)

With new album, Timberlake not 2 for 2

Justin Timberlake
“The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2”
(RCA Records)

The anticipation that surrounded Justin Timberlake‘s return to music was intense. It took seven years for him to follow-up the Grammy-winning masterpiece that was “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” and when he did in March with “The 20/20 Experience,” the pop prince helped fill a void in our musical lives, thanks to his slick R&B sound jelled with dance beats.
“The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2” uses the same formula that’s becoming his musical trademark -- the trance-inducing grooves and futuristic electronic beats helmed by Timbaland and Timberlake, who co-wrote each song. Unfortunately it doesn’t feel new.
The lead single, the disco number “Take Back the Night,” might be good for mere mortal pop stars, but compared to Timberlake’s own lofty standards, disappoints.
Not all of “2 of 2” should be dismissed: “You Got It On” is soft slow jam -- listen and you’ll feel like you’re on a cloud. And the midtempo “Drink You Away” is the disc’s most adventurous offering. It doesn’t sound like anything else on the album: It’s guitar driven with a strong backbeat, with a raw quality that makes it a bit indescribable -- and exhilarating. (AP)